Ricochet Premieres in Los Angeles
128 kbps High-Speed Wireless Internet Access Now Available in Largest Coverage Area Under Nationwide Footprint
SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 5, 2001--Metricom, Inc. (Nasdaq:MCOM - news), a leading high-speed wireless data company, today announced the commercial availability of Ricochet® high-speed mobile access in the Los Angeles service area. Stretching from the Ventura county line down the coast to Newport Beach and beyond Riverside to the east, the Los Angeles footprint represents the largest market in the nationwide Ricochet network and marks the first commercial market launch of Ricochet in 2001.
Ricochet offers the advantage of 128 kbps access with true wireless mobility, allowing users the freedom to work outside the confines of the office but with the full capabilities of a desktop experience. With the addition of the Los Angeles market, mobile professionals can take advantage of high-speed access from anywhere within the national coverage footprint, which now includes the following fifteen service areas covering over 48 million in population: Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.
``Clearly the launch of the Los Angeles market as the first service area activation in 2001 makes a strong statement for Ricochet and the benefits it has to offer,'' said Glen Estell, president and COO of Metricom. ``The demand for high-speed wireless access to every kind of data anytime, anywhere is perhaps no further evident than in L.A., where the culture requires people to be mobile yet always have a finger on the pulse of what's going on. By bringing Ricochet to such a large, diverse metropolitan area, millions of people can now experience an entirely new way of staying connected to information wherever and whenever they need it.''
The initial footprint in the Los Angeles area will cover a population of approximately 10 million people, including cities such as Los Angeles (including downtown), Burbank, Hollywood, Pasadena, Torrance, and most of Orange County. As with all service areas, the Ricochet network in Los Angeles will continue to build out, and progress can be monitored online at www.ricochet.com.
``In order to further economic growth in Los Angeles, it is crucial that we welcome innovative technologies that enhance the speed at which people communicate,'' said Los Angeles Mayor Richard J. Riordan. ``Ricochet's arrival in Los Angeles recognizes the City's efforts to provide the best resources for our workforce and residents to stay on the move and still meet the demands of living on the Digital Coast.''
Ricochet allows anyone to increase balance between work and home life and be more productive. Mobile professionals using a variety of devices can access information online exactly as if they were at their desktop. They can view and download full Web content, send and receive email with attachments, link to corporate intranets, and use the applications, information and services they are accustomed to without needing to be in the office.
Currently, the greater Los Angeles area has over 140 communities with Ricochet coverage, including Cerritos. ``Cerritos is a cutting-edge city in that a lot of high-tech companies have significant presence here, so the people of our city demand leading-edge technologies as well,'' said Dennis Davis, assistant city manager/director of community development for the City of Cerritos. ``Ricochet is a very fast and reliable wireless data service that liberates users from the limitations of a wired connection to a wall, so it clearly presents an attractive resource for mobile professionals in Cerritos for the productivity and convenience it provides.''
The high-performance Ricochet network allows users to access the Internet from anywhere within 15 coverage areas across the United States-whether at the office or home, at a client site, on a park bench, in the back of a taxi, at any one of 15 airports where Ricochet is available, or on the road-anytime being connected is important.
Ricochet is available through Ricochet authorized service providers including GoAmerica, Juno Online, Wireless WebConnect!, and others. More information about availability through these providers can be found at www.ricochet.com/getricochet.htm/ or by visiting select retail stores in Ricochet service areas including Fry's Electronics, Staples, and CompUSA.
About Metricom
Metricom, Inc. is a leading high-speed wireless data company. With its high-speed Ricochet mobile access, Metricom is making ``information anytime'' possible-at home, at the office, on the road, and on many devices. Founded in 1985, Metricom has spent more than 15 years on the development of its distinctive MicroCellular Data Network (MCDN) technology. That experience has enabled Metricom to develop the fastest wireless mobile data networking and technology available today. Ricochet has been operating since 1995 at speeds up to 28.8 kbps. The new Ricochet, delivering user speeds of 128 kbps, is currently available in thirteen markets and is connected to two 28.8 kbps service areas to increase coverage for mobile professionals. Coverage will continue expanding, and is targeted to reach 46 markets.
Statements made in this press release that are not historical facts, including those related to future market conditions, future competitors, future partners, market rollouts and future technology, are forward looking and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties which may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in these statements. Among other things, additional competition from existing and future competitors may impact the market. Projections of market size, partners, market acceptance, technological rollout and competition are estimated based on preliminary information as well as certain assumptions which management believes to be reasonable at this time. All forward looking statements are subject to the successful completion of the actions described in this press release. In addition to the factors set forth elsewhere in this press release, the economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors identified in Metricom's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission could affect the forward looking statements contained in this press release.
Note to Editors: Metricom, MCDN, and Ricochet are registered trademarks of Metricom, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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Contact:
Metricom, Inc., San Jose
Jeannie Slone, 408/282-3136
jslone@metricom.com
or
Fleishman-Hillard for Metricom
Erin Butler, 415/356-1024
butlere@fleishman.com |
